A WOMAN CANDIDATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 27

A WOMAN CANDIDATE.

AUCKLAND REFORM CHOICE. SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS THE MEN. AUCKLAND, July 9 The intention of a division of the Aucfe land Women’s branch of the Reform League to select a new prospective woman candidate for presumably the first par* liamentary vacancy that occurs is an interesting and not surprising 6equel to th* events in connection with the recent Eden by-election. The rift that occurred between the party and Miss Melville—who carried the Reform banner last year, and at one previous election—was such that the burying of the hatchet was not to be expected. Doctor Buckley Turkington, who has been chosen as the prospective candidate, is not very well known in Auckland, but no doubt, as no election is yet in sight, it is presumed she will become better known before the occasion for her candidature arises. In returning thanks for her selection, she made an obvious allusion to the dispute that occurred in connection with the result of the election of a Reform candidate in the Eden seat. “If I should be acceptable to the leader of the party,” she said, “and received an invitation from an electorate to submit myself to the election committee, which is the usual procedure, I shall abide by its selection and ask no favour, as I believe in the equality of the sexes, and do my best to win the seat. I always feel that, while I have had much experience in working for the welfare of women and children, we must not forget the poor men. After all they are very useful, and we must not leaive them out in the cold. They like a little attention. I must stand for the family spirit which cannot exist unless there is harmony. This means that someone must voice the opinions of the all too backward women, as well as the men.” Dr Buckley Turkington was born in Yorkshire, and graduated in medicine and surgery in 1911. She served with the Imperial Army during the war, and then settling in Sydney did considerable war work there, as well as assisting to found a hospital for women and children in one of the poor quarters of that city. For some years she has taken part in the work of the women’s organisations in New Zealand. She declared herself to be a strong party woman, and does not believe in women standing for Parliament as independent candidates. From the femininist point of view the next election in Auckland should prove particularly interesting.